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CONCERT 1 PROGRAMME 25 July 2008 (Friday) FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE (Conductors: DAMIEN LIM & KEVIN KO)

Arnold Sherman

FANTASY NO 1 in Fmin

Toshikazu Yoshida

PRIMROSE

MASS RING (Conductors: MELODIE NG & ELIZABETH TSUI) Ringers from THE MOB, THE FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE & THE EMBELLISHMENT

Arr. Cynthia Dobrinski

AMAZING GRACE

Arnold Sherman

LET THERE BE PEACE

MINISTRY OF BELLZ (Conductor: DAMIEN LIM Guest Conductor: KEVIN KO * )

arr. Cynthia Dobrinski

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC (Timpani: P.K. Organist: Cai Ximin)

arr. Cynthia Dobrinski

BE THOU THY VISION / Make Us True Servants

Rentarou Taki / arr. Kazuko Okamoto

MOON OVER THE RUINED CASTLE

Taiwan Folk Songs Arr. Kevin Ko

* SONG OF THE FLOWERS

John A. Behnke

* LES CLOCHES – The Bells

J.Milchberg & D.A Robles / arr. Francisco R.Abade

* EL CONDOR PASA

G.Bizet / Arr. Kevin McChesney

FESTIVE DANCE

Menken / arr. Douglas E.Wagner

BEAUTY & THE BEAST

MOB Mission Statement …A Premier Singaporean Handbells Ensemble, Educating the Young, Sharing our Music, Inspiring the People & Reaching Out to the Southeast-Asian Region.

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CONCERT 2 PROGRAMME

26 July 2008 (Saturday) Mass Ring: The Embellishment Youth Ringers & Ministry of Bellz

Rondo Cynthia Dobrinsky

Let There Be Peace On Earth Arnold Sherman

The Embellishment Quartet

Fugue in C Major J. S. Bach arr. by Charles Maggs

The Old Rugged Cross George Bennard arr. by Charles Maggs

Every Time I Feel the Spirit arr. by Kevin McChesney

The Embellishment Duet

El Baile del Amante Kevin Mazimas Ko

The Embellishment Handbell Solo

Parade of the Tin Soldier arr. by Christine Anderson

The Embellishment Youth Ringers

Bwana Asifiwe Moklebust, Cathy

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio

Jamaican Melody Folk/Potter, D. arr. by John Behnke

The Embellishment Quartet

Prelude in F Major J.S. Bach, arr. by Charles Maggs

The Embellishment Quintet

Beside Still Waters Howrd Starks arr. by Ardis Freeman

The Embellishment Quartet

Maple Leaf Rag Scott Joplin arr. by Charles Maggs

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THE FESTIVAL CALENDER Wednesday, 23 July 2008 7.25am: Embellishment Performance @ Yu Neng Primary School (Bedok)

10.30am: Embellishment Performance @ Yio Chu Kang Primary School (Hougang)

Thursday, 24th July 2008 9am: Embellishment Performance @ CHIJ Katong Convent (Bedok)

11.30am: Embellishment Performance @ Rulang Primary School (Jurong West)

1pm: Embellishment Performance @ Rulang Primary School (Jurong West)

7pm: MOB Exchange with Embellishment Friday, 25 July 2008 7.30pm: FESTIVAL SHOWTIME 1 (featuring Local Handbells Ensembles)

9pm: Post-Concert Chat Saturday, 26 July 2008 10am: WORKSHOP 1 (Warm-Ups & Exercises by DAMIEN – 45mins)

11am: WORKSHOP 2 (Level 3 & Beyond Handbells Ringing BY KEVIN & THE EMBELLISHMENT) 2pm: WORKSHOP 3 (Common Errors & Mistakes in Handbells playing BY KEVIN & MOB) 3.30pm: Pre-Concert Chat 4pm: FESTIVAL SHOWTIME 2 (featuring foreign Groups) 8pm: Farewell & Thank You BBQ Dinner (By Invitation Only)

Sunday, 27 July 2008 10am: FESTIVAL SHOWTIME 3 by MOB @ Catholic Church. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Handbell Group with PASSION ...... Kevin Ko (Hong Kong)

Your Music is BEAUTIFUL ...... Tourist at Changi Airport (Singapore)

GROOVING to the BEAT of Handbells...... YOUTH.sg

SINGAPORE Ensemble gives Traditional Music a Modern TWIST...... Channelnewsasia

An OUTSTANDING Performance...... An Audience @ Tai Po (HK) Performance

A very INTERESTING Performance. ......NAC Music Officer

Thank you for bringing a SMILE to me TODAY......Wedding Bride

The Handbells were the HIGHLIGHT of the Nite. Thanx! ...... The Bride on 7th June 08

The MOB has a singular goal: making stunning music on handbells......Dr John Hooper

(Canada)

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THE PERFORMING ENSEMBLES The 20-member / 5-octave, MINISTRY OF BELLz (MOB) was established in June 2007, was founded & sponsored by Baba Damien Lim. The MOB is Singapore's 1st privately funded ensemble, outside Schools & Churches. The team's performance schedule includes Concerts, Birthday Parties, Weddings, Church Celebrations, Christmas Season, Events & other Functions. The team performed more than 43 shows during the Christmas Season 2007 & a Performance Tour to Hong

Kong in 2007. The team's repertoire includes Christmas Carols, Children Tunes, Evergreens, Light Latin, Collection of Singapore & Asian Tunes as well as World Folk Songs in addition to Contemporary Handbells Music. The MOB's pioneer members include qualified Ringers, Percussionists & Keyboardists from the Four-4 Percussion Team, as well as GOLD & GOLD w/HONOURS Award ringers from the Singapore Youth Festival Competitions. Coming together with the common passion of Handbells Ringing & Music Making, the ensemble aims to be a "Leader in Handbells Music" in Singapore & Southeast-Asia. In 2008, the MOB will tour Orlando, USA, in August, as well as Taiwan in November. In addtition, the MOB will host Singapore's 1st Handbells Festival, called the SingBellzFEST '08 from 22 - 27 July. The team kicks-off its 5 School Outreach Program, reaching out to local schools & creating the awareness to the art of handbells ringing. The MOB just performed recently at the Singapore Arts Festival in June'08. It will close the year with its annual Handbells Concert just around the Christmas Season. Future plans for 2009, the MOB will be recording & releasing Singapore's 1st Handbells CD – entitled SINGBellzONE. It will be a compilation of 15-works played by MOB since October'07, which will also include MOB commissioned works. We present to you, Singapore's Premier Handbells Ensemble, The MINISTRY OF BELLz.

www.limyongproductions.com/mob.per.sg

THE EMBELLISHMENT YOUTH ENSEMBLE (Hong Kong)

THE EMBELLISHMENT QUARTET / QUINTET (Hong Kong)

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FESTIVAL DIRECTOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR (MINISTRY OF BELLZ)

Damien Lim Yong Seng DipABRSM, ATCL, LGSMD(PPD), LRSM

Damien received his early music training under the instruction of his

Bandmaster Dad, Mr Nicholas Lim & was a member of the Singapore

Schools Percussion Band under Mr. Syed Ibrahim BHM.

He was a member of the Singapore Youth Orchestra from 1994 – 1999

under the tutorage of Mr. Lim Meng Keh. He also free-lances for the

Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Pop Orchestra &

Singapore Chinese Orchestra and is a timpanist-keyboardist-

percussionist with ‘Chang & Eng’, ’HONK’, ‘They’re Playing Our Song’,

‘A Twist Of Fate’, ‘Lao Jiu’, ‘Beauty World’, ‘ Magic Of Love‘, ‘The

Magic Box’ & ‘Forbidden City... etc, under the baton of Iskandar Ismail

& Sydney Tan. He was also Music Director for “Bibiks Go Broadway (2003)” & “River of Life

(2003)….etc

Damien is the conductor & advisor for 13 Primary & Secondary Schools Handbells & Angklung

Ensembles, of which 3 schools attained the Singapore Youth Festival GOLD Awards in 2006 & 2

schools attained the SYF GOLD with Honors & GOLD Awards in 2008.

He was Principal Timpanist/Percussionist with the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band from

1996 – 2002, a member of the World Youth Wind Orchestra in Austria in 2000 & the HeartBeat

Percussion Band from 1991 - 2001.

From 2001 - 2003, he was Conductor /Adjudicator at the National Youth Percussion Festival. He is

also Chapter President of the Percussive Arts Society (Singapore) & a proud member of the Drum

Circle Facilitators Guild & the American Guild of English Handbells Ringers.

In 2004, he was invited to be Guest Emcee - Choreographer/Music Composer for the National Day

Parade 2004 Act 3: Percussion Segment. He also performs often for the Chingay Parade &

Singapore Arts Festival.

Damien presently leads the Peranakan Baba Band, Anak Baba Band & founded the professional

Four-4 Percussion Team & Asian Melodies. He actively performs with the Main Wayang

Company, a Peranakan Cultural Company. In 2007, Damien founded the Ministry of Bellz,

Singapore’s Premiere Handbells Ensemble. He also Guest Conducted the Hong Kong Youth

Handbells Ensemble in its Singapore Tour 2007. Damien was awarded the “Exhibition Award” by

UK’s Trinity College of Music of London in 2006.

A well-travelled musician, Damien has performed in China, Japan, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand,

Turkey, USA, Australia, Malaysia, Austria, France, Egypt, Ireland, Hong Kong and South Korea.

His 2008 tour schedule includes Hong Kong, Orlando (USA), Malacca (Malaysia) & Taiwan (ROC).

In 2009, he will travel to New Zealand as well as Hong Kong, Canada & USA.

Damien’s motto towards his passion: “To Share, To Educate, To Inspire”.

* He sincerely thanks God, Mel, Alex, Kevin, Roland, Ximin, Stephanie & all ringers of MOB & The

Embellishement for all their efforts in making this Festival a success.

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FESTIVAL ADVISOR & MUSIC DIRECTOR (THE EMBELLISHMENT)

Kevin Mazimas Ko B.Mus (Hons), M.A

Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Music

Composition from Hong Kong Baptist University in 2001 and obtained his

Masters of Arts (MA) in Music Composition in 2003. While he was studying

MA, he simultaneously completed an intensive Masters degree course at

Concordia University Wisconsin, majoring Church Music, Handbells

Conducting, Handbells Performing, Handbells Composing as well as Choral

Conducting. He was a choral conducting student of Dr. James Nowach

(University of Wisconsin) and a handbell conducting student of Dr. William A.

Payn (Bucknell University). He also developed his handbells composing skills

with Arnold Sherman and polished his handbells performance technique with

Dr. John Behnke (AGEHR). He graduated with an outstanding result. In the

summer of 2003, he also learned Creativity in Handbell Performance and Teaching under the supervision

of well known music educator, Dr. Hal. Hopson.

Kevin plays the piano since he was 7, & kicked-start his handbell career in 1996 when he met his teacher,

the late Mr. Ralph Yoars, at Hong Kong Baptist University. In November 1999, Kevin organized the

concert “Ring and Sing”, involving the Hong Kong Baptist University Music Department, in memory of

Mr. Yoars who passed away in March of the same year. He received instructions from Christine D.

Anderson on solo handbell ringing and later received lessons from Japanese teacher, Yokka Matsuoka. In

2004, he established his Handbells Ensemble “The emBellishment” after he purchased a 3.5 octave

Malmark bells.

In March and August 2003, Kevin directed the Tai Po Baptist Church Handbell festival and North Point

Alliance Church Handbell Workshops and was the conductor in mass ringings. In December, he was

appointed by Malmark Handbells, Inc. of the United States as the representative of Hong Kong. He

performed in the RTHK organized TV show “Let Dreams Fly” in cooperation with the Southern Television

and Broadcasting Ltd of Guangzhou in December. Kevin was invited to conduct the Hong Kong Chuen

Yuen College Handbell Choir as part of the programme.

In July 2005, he has organized a handbell concert cooperating with the Plainview Baptist Church of Texas

and Tai Po Bapist Church of Hong Kong.

In year 2005, Kevin went on a concert tour performing solo handbells in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore

and the United States. At the same time, he conducted handbell workshops, master classes as well as

concerts in different schools to promote handbell music and to advance the techniques of school choirs.

Kevin loves to compose too. His arrangements “Via Dolorosa”, “El Baile Del Amante”, “Song of the

Flowers”, etc have been published in the US and listed with the AGEHR.

In year 2006, Kevin went on a performance tour to Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore and Korea. During this

tour, Kevin was interviewed by news papers in Hong Kong several TV channels in Taiwan, which includes

Christian Channels and entertainment programmes.

Kevin is currently a professional handbell soloist with “The Embellishment”. International-wise, a member

of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Malmark Handbells Inc. Hong Kong and Taiwan officer,

the director of the Embellishment Youth Handbell Choir, Tai Po Baptist Church guest conductor and

consultant, Hong Kong Handbell Academy lecturer, director of CCC Chuen Yuen College Handbell Choir

and director of the Kwun Tong Children’s Choir Senior Group.

Kevin is the International Advisor to the Ministry of Bellz (Singapore).

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THE MOB LEADERS

Melodie Ng has been learning the Piano since she was 4 years old. She is

currently doing her ABRSM-Grade 7 in Pianoforte and Diploma in

Percussion Studies. Her percussion education started 6 years ago when she

joined the Telok Kurau Secondary School (TKSS) Percussion Band. She

worked her way up the ranks and became the Assistant Band Leader in 2002

& subsequently, Band Leader in 2003. During her years in TKSS, she won

various awards namely, "Best Band Member Award" in 2002 & 2003 and the

"EAGLES Award" in 2003 for her contributions to the school. Melodie also

participated in the National Youth Percussion Festival from 2001 to 2003 and

was also selected to attend the National Schools NCO Band Camp in 2002. Melodie has also completed a 1-week

program in Production Management by Tommy Wong at the Esplanade Theaters on the Bay. She has been with

LYP ever since it was established in 2003. Melodie is member of the Studio Percussion Unit (SPU), Four-4

Percussion, The Baba Band, Anak Baba Band, Asian Melodies and Ministry of Bellz.

In her alma mater's production(2003) of River Of Life - A Musical Journey, she multi-tasked as Multi-

Percussionist/ Keyboardist while performing the duties of a Producer/ Director's Student Assistant. Beyond

curriculum, Melodie has performed in these musical hits - Bibiks Go Broadway (Nov'03) & Baba Nyonya Mari-

Go-Round (Jan'06) directed by Richard Tan S G. In April 2005, she performed as a keyboardist in God Alone -

The Musical Of Montfort & HI (Hearing Impaired) Theatre musical production at the Alliance Francaise

(Sept'05). In October 2006, she performed in Singapore Polytechnic's (SP's) first Musical, Superstar, as Multi-

Percussionist. Melodie also host concerts and shows in SP. Together with 4 other members of the 2-Four

percussion team, she performed at Club Med Cherating (Malaysia) as keyboardist (Oct'06). She also performed

in Penang (Malaysia) & Hong Kong in 2007.

Under the close supervision & training by Mr Damien Lim, she passed her ABRSM Grade 5 in Percussion

Performance with Distinction in July 2003 and her Grade 8 in Percussion Performance in September 2004.

Melodie has recently attained her Diploma in Music and Audio Technology from Singapore Polytechnic.

Aspiring to be an arts manager/arranger/songwriter/sound engineer/host someday, Melodie is currently pursuing

her ABRSM Diploma in Percussion Performance.

Alexandra Tan is presently a 2nd year biotechnology student at Singapore

Polytechnic, Alexandra is a multi-talented individual and is always actively

involved in school events and productions as well as performances she put up

with her band members in the LYP bands. Joining the ensemble as soon as it

was formed, she fulfilled the roles of a band member, co-leader and now, the

Head of the Marketing Department. Musically, she has an ABRSM Grade 8

Piano qualification and recently, obtained a Merit in ABRSM Grade 8

Percussion.

Besides the roles she plays in the ensemble, she is also nominated the vice-president of SP Dance Club where she

carries heavy responsibility in promoting the dance culture as well as cultivating her leadership skills.

Back in the Telok Kurau Secondary School Percussion Band under Mr Damien Lim, she led the band as its band

leader (Year 04/05). She arranged several pieces with genre ranging from local ethnic to pop. The passion

Alexandra has for music has brought her to greater altitudes of showmanship, professionalism and creativity

through the years. She took her first step as a vocalist in My Home, the band's 2nd annual concert in July'06.

Alexandra quests to develop her skills as a musician and hopefully in the in the arts' scene as she simultaneously

help her band mates.

Alexandra is pursing her dreams with her passion for singing, acting, dancing and most importantly, making

music. She is very thankful for the support she has.

She has performed in Cherating & Penang (Malaysia) in 2006 & 2007.

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THE MINISTRY OF BELLz RINGERz

1st Row (L – R):

SNG Yiangshan, NG Kim Peng, Axils AUW

CAI Ximin

2nd

Row (L – R):

Stephanie NG, Pearl LAM, Marlene GOH,

TAN Biing Yih

3rd Row (L – R):

HELIMMI Ahmad Ibrahim, Debbie CHNG, P.K,

YANG Chuan Rui

4th Row (L – R):

Rei NAKANISHI, Esther TANG, Pearlin CHOONG, Roland LEE, Myren MAK (Above)

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The SingBellz Fest Festival Ensemble

DEBBIE CHNG Bedok Green Secondary School & MOB MARLENE SAMANTHA GOH Cedar Girls’ Secondary School & MOB YANG CHUAN RUI Tampines Junior College & MOB CAI XIMIN Temasek Junior College & MOB LAI ROXANNE Methodist Girls’ School (Sec) CHERRY FONG Methodist Girls’ School (Sec) JOANNE WONG Methodist Girls’ School (Sec) TIEH SUAT YING Methodist Girls’ School (Sec) LUK WAI CHUN The emBellishment Youth Ensemble WONG CHEUK CHUEN The emBellishment Youth Ensemble CHAN CHUI YEE The emBellishment Youth Ensemble TONG PO KWAN The emBellishment Youth Ensemble WONG TSZ YING The emBellishment Youth Ensemble PANG WING YAN The emBellishment Youth Ensemble

The emBellishment Quintet

高浩恩 KO HO YAN KEVIN M 陳卓瑤 CHAN CHEUK YIU YOYO

徐迎昕 TSUI YING YAN ELIZABETH 徐沛昕 TSUI PUI YAN JESSICA

劉毓秀 LAU YUK SAU ISABELL

The emBellishment Youth Ensemble

李曉怡 LI HIU YI 易俊肇 YICK CHUN SIU

陸慧蓁 LUK WAI CHUN 彭詠欣 PANG WING YAN

曾景廉 TSANG KING LIM 黃焯傳 WONG CHEUK CHUEN

張健威 CHEUNG KIN WAI 王紫瀅 WONG TSZ YING

唐寶鈞 TONG PO KWAN * 劉毓秀 LAU YUK SAU ISABELL

陳翠怡 CHAN CHUI YEE * 陳卓瑤 CHAN CHEUK YIU YOYO

The Embellishment Handbell Solo was established by Mr. Kevin Mazimas Ko in 2004. Since then, the international-wise soloist has performed in nearly thirty concerts throughout Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, United States and Canada. He has also been a guest performer to play in a Taiwanese television program. In October 2006, the majority of The Embellishment’s performance is small group ensemble. Besides playing handbell solo, Kevin invited three of his friends, Isabell, Jessica and Elizabeth to join The Embellishment. With the new members’ involvements, Duet and Quartet ensembles are formed.

Not long after being established, the group has been involving in many performances,

including the Gala Handbell Concert of Handbell Festival 2007, and handbell concert in International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary School. The group also performed a total of eight concerts in Taiwan during 2006-2007. The group has also been invited as guest ringers in weddings, private clubs and shopping malls. In July 2007, The Embellishment was interviewed by the RTHK podcast program “Hong Kong . 300”, in the interview, the group shared about their experiences and joy of handbell playing. Besides, the group is also very devoted in nurturing new generation of handbell ringers, the group members were invited by the Asia Handbell Music Centre to be instructors of the Taiwan Handbell Seminar, to promote handbell music and train handbell ringers.

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FESTIVAL PRODUCTION TEAM

Festival Director DAMIEN LIM Festival Advisor KEVIN MAZIMAS KO Production Manager MELODIE NG Marcomm Manager ALEXANDRA TAN

Marcomm Assistant CAI XIMIN Ticketing STEPHANIE NG Logistics Manager ROLAND LEE Logistics Assistants PEARLIN CHOONG & SNG YIANGSHAN

Presented By MINISTRY OF BELLZ Co-Presented By LIM YONG PRODUCTIONS Supported By THE PERCUSSIVE ARTS STUDIOS &

THE ASIA INSTITUTE OF HANDBELLS (HK) Sponsored By DAMIEN LIM Featuring THE MINISTRY OF BELLZ, THE SINGBELLZ FESTIVAL ENSEMBLE,

THE EMBELLISHMENT (HK)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank to following people for making our debut festival a huge success:

- The Parents & Family Members of our Ringers & Musicians

- Our MOB Advisors, Baba Chris Fong, Mr Lim Chin Kai,

Mr Kevin Ko & Baba Richard Tan

- The Embellishment Team, Hong Kong

- Asia Institute of Handbells, Hong Kong

- COMPASS

- Sonata Music House Pte Ltd

- The National Arts Council

- The Principal & Staff @ Yio Chu Kang Primary School

- The Principal & Staff @ Yu Neng Primary School

- The Principal & Staff @ Rulang Primary School

- The Principal & Staff @ CHIJ Katong Convent (Primary)

- Mr David Toh & TKH (Musical Instruments) Transportation

- Uncle Razali & Staff @ YMS Auditorium

- Mr Axils Auw, for the Poster & Festival Design

- News Radio LIVE 93.8FM

- SPH – Friday Weekly Newspaper

- www.yzone.omy.sg

- Singapore Press Holdings

- All of you present here today.

MINISTRY OF BELLZ - UPCOMING SHOWS

13 & 14 August 2008 @ The Esplanade, 7.15pm & 8.15pm, FREE 1 October 2008 @ The Esplanade, 11.30am, FREE

21 December 2008 @ YMS Auditorium, 3.30pm, $12

Do visit our website for updates on our MONTHLY PERFORMANCES. To JOIN US as a RINGER, please visit:

www.limyongproductions.com/mob.per.sg

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To Educate, To Share, To Inspire……

Performances & Instructions Handbells / Handchimes Percussion Angklung Peranakan Band (with The Main Wayang Company)

Management Artiste Management Band Management

Percussion Instruments Rental Sound System Rental

Studio Rental Handbells Rental

School Musical Productions

Examinations ABRSM Percussion Exams TCL Drumkit Exams ROCKSCHOOL Drumkit Exams AIH Handbells Assessment (Group / Individuals)

LIM YONG PRODUCTIONS 454A Macpherson Road Singapore 368172 www.limyongproductions.com damien@limyongproductions.com alexandra@limyongproductions.com

Tel: +65-94503105 / +65-91837244

Your Studio Smells Good …… Kit Chan (2005)